Word of Encouragement (09/01/2022)
Moses prayed this prayer when he came back up to Mount Sinai after going down to see what the people of Israel were doing. The sight of their idol worship so enraged him that he threw down the tablets of stone, on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed by the finger of God (Ex. 31:18). After rebuking Aaron, he commanded the Levites to execute God’s punishment on the Israelites, by which three thousand fell at their sword. After that, he told the Israelites, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin” (Ex. 32:30).
In this prayer, Moses did not just appeal to God’s mercy. He actually stopped in the middle of his intercession: “But now, if you will forgive their sin....” It seems that he could not bring himself to finish the prayer he had just begun. It was as if what he witnessed in the camp of Israel was so terrible that he could not expect God to possibly forgive them! So, what did he do? He stopped his plea for forgiveness in the middle and finished it with these words: “...but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
It seems that this was what Moses planned to do when he came back up to Mount Sinai. He told the Israelites why he was going up to Mount Sinai: “...perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” But he did not bring any sacrificial animal with him. Maybe he knew that no animal could possibly pay for the grave sin that the Israelites had just committed. Could it be that he intended to offer himself as the atonement?
How incredible this is! Moses was a reluctant leader. Remember how much he resisted God’s command to go back to Egypt to deliver the people of Israel? And the Israelites were not an easy bunch to lead. Whenever a problem arose, they were quick to complain and rebel, forgetting all that he had done for them in the name of God. In their short time together, they had said some nasty things against Moses and even against God! And yet, here was Moses, willing to sacrifice his life for such fickle and ungrateful people. We don’t know what happened. Did taking on this leadership role unleash something in him? Possibly. But we can view this as another instance of God equipping His servants with whatever they need to carry out their callings, including the capacity to love unlovable people.
However, as impressive as Moses’ sacrificial love for the Israelites was, the LORD did not accept His offer. God is sovereign and almighty. He is not so desperate that He accepts whatever we deign to offer Him. You know how the LORD rejected David’s offer to build a temple for Him: David’s hands were stained with too much blood. Why did God reject Moses’ offer? As much as he loved the people of Israel, he was not worthy. For he, too, was a sinner and all sinners are blemished by sin; they must die for their sins. Therefore, they cannot offer themselves as an atonement for others. No amount of sincerity and love can make them qualified. (Did Moses think too highly of himself?)
There is only one Man, who is worthy to offer Himself as the atonement for the sins of His people—Jesus Christ our Lord. He alone was sinless in this life; He alone could offer Himself as the Lamb of God to take away our sins. Let us thank and love Christ that He was willing to sacrifice Himself for us while we were yet sinners. and His sacrifice was acceptable and pleasing to God, granting us eternal salvation!
May the Lord increase our love for those, whom God entrusted to our care! May the Lord help us to pray for them with diligence and zeal! And may we acknowledge with humility that it is a privilege to serve them, not a chore!